Really struggling.

[andee84]

I did drugs at 18, became extremely self conscious, withdrew from my friends and social situations, hid from the world for years. Now I'm 29, struggling with life, struggling with social situations, struggling with my family, struggling with people at work, struggling with meeting a girl, struggling with the thought of getting the job I want because of my social skills. Every day is hard. Every day I feel slightly ill,  uncomfortable. I have trouble breathing, my stomach aches, my thoughts are scattered with negativity and doubt.   Life seems unfair. I feel as if nothing I do helps. I try so hard, but constantly fall short.   I love life, but am in so much pain. I have felt immense joy in life, but for the longest time, sadness has consumed me.   I worry that I won't overcome my sadness. I worry I will keep my problems and doubt for many years. I worry that if my doubt persists, life will get worse.  

[Colin]

Hi Andee84,  

The past is finite – the future infinite. It appears worry is consuming your energy leaving you struggling across a number of areas. It might be worth you investing some time into developing your self confidence and acquiring some social skills. These can be acquired from various sources. One that might suit you is through books. I can recommend Alan Loy McGinnis as an author. He writes in an easy to understand way and presents a number of sound ideas and techniques. The two books that might be of interest are Confidence – how to succeed in being yourself and The Friendship Factor. I enjoyed and benefited from these. I wish you well.